Records of the Plant Sale and Giveaway, 1973, 1978-2009: Guide.

Location: Archives.Call No.: I H-2 PSGRepository: Archives of the Arnold Arboretum, Harvard UniversityCreator: Arnold ArboretumTitle: Records of the Plant Sale and Giveaway, 1973, 1978-2009: Guide.Date(s): 1973, 1978-2009, undated.Quantity: 1 linear feet (3 boxes)Abstract: The collection consists of materials related to the planning and execution of the
Arboretum Plant Sale and Giveaway during the thirty-four years of its existence. Materials
include correspondence, meeting notes, financial records, and plant descriptions,
as well as final drafts of the catalogs produced for each sale. The collection ranges
from 1973-2009, with materials from 1998-2000 being particularly replete.

Researchers seeking to examine archival materials are strongly encouraged to make
an appointment. The Director, or an office of origin, may place restrictions on the
use of some or all of its records. The extent and length of the restriction will be
determined by the Director, office of origin, and the Archivist and will be enforced
equally for all researchers.

The copyright is held by The President and Fellows of Harvard College for the Arnold
Arboretum Archives of Harvard University. The copyright on some materials in the collection
may be held by the original author or the author's heirs or assigns. Researchers are
responsible for obtaining written permission from the holder(s) of copyright and the
Arnold Arboretum Archives prior to publishing any quotations or images from materials
in this collection.

Photocopies may be made at the discretion of the Arnold Arboretum Archives staff.
Permission to make photocopies does not constitute permission to reproduce or publish
materials outside the bounds of the fair use guidelines.

The Arnold Arboretum Giveaway of woody plants joined the plant dividend distribution
mailing as a member benefit in 1970. The Plant Sale at the Arboretum's Case Estates
property became a feature of the annual plant giveaway in 1980. The sale, along with
the later auction component, was originally only for Friends of the Arboretum, but
they evolved into events that allowed the participation of the general public. Though
the sale underwent several modifications over the years, the basic structure remained
the same. Members were permitted earlier entrance to access their giveaway plants
and peruse the sale offerings, with the public allowed to join them later in the morning.
In 2002, the Sale once again became a members-only event. The schedule was significantly
modified based on membership levels, and the overall size of the event was considerably
scaled down. In 2004, the Sale was moved from the Case Estates to the Arboretum grounds
in Jamaica Plain. The 2009 event was the last offering a retail component. From that
point on, the intention was to allow the greenhouse to focus on growing for the living
collections, with only the distribution remaining as a member benefit.

The Plant Sale and Giveaway records include materials saved during the production
of the annual plant sale and giveaway event held originally at the Case Estates in
Weston, Massachusetts. The specific contents vary from year to year, but typically
include correspondence, financial records, photographs and slides, meetings notes,
literature distributed to sale attendees, plant information, pre- and post-event publicity,
schedules, and task lists. The materials in the collection give a broad look at the
planning, execution, and evolution of the event from a members-only benefit giveaway
to a public sale of rare and unique plants. Correspondents include Peter Shaw Ashton,
Peter Del Tredici, Barbara O. Epstein, Peg H. Hedstrom, Gary L. Koller, Wendy Marks,
Karen L. O'Connell, Christine C. Santos, Kara Stepanian, J. Patrick Willoughby.